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SWEET VALENTINE – Raw Chocolate Peanut Butter Molten Cake

Raw Chocolate Peanut Butter Molten Cake

Raw Chocolate Peanut Butter Molten Cake

In daily life we really do want to minimize / eliminate sweets, but who can resist a little chocolate on Valentine’s Day?  Make this raw molten cake with peanut butter lava for your honey and I guarantee they will be feeling the love.  This is sooooooo yum!

INGREDIENTS – Makes 6 individual molten cakes

Cake

2 cups raw pecans (best result if frozen)

2/3 cup raw agave

1/2 cup raw cacao powder

1/2 cup coconut flour

Filling

1 Tbs. organic peanut butter for each cake

Toppings

Fun Fresh Foods chocolate agave nectar 

powdered sugar for dusting

fresh sliced bananas

~

Take the frozen pecans and place them in the food processor (I use a Cuisinart I purchased at Costco).  Turn on the processor and process until the nuts become meal.  Do not process too long or it will turn into nut butter.

Frozen Raw Pecans

Frozen Raw Pecans

Process Into a Meal

Process Into Meal

Pour the raw agave into the nuts while processing.  The nuts and agave will turn into batter.

Batter

Batter

Add the raw cacao and process to incorporate.  The processor will begin working very hard…you may have to stop and scrape down the bowl. 

Add the Cacao Powder

Add the Cacao Powder

Scrape Down the Sides

Scrape Down the Sides

When well mixed, take the batter out and transfer it to a bowl.  Wearing latex-type gloves (to avoid sticking), mix in the coconut flour with your hands.

Transfer to a Bowl

Transfer to a Bowl

Add the Coconut Flour

Add the Coconut Flour

Use Hands to Incorporate

Use Hands to Incorporate

Line your mini cake molds with saran wrap.

Mini Bundt Molds

Mini Bundt Molds

Line With Plastic Wrap

Line With Plastic Wrap

Once mixed well, use a 2 Tbs. ice cream scoop to fill each of the 6 molds.  Wrap the remaining cacao batter in Saran Wrap and place it as well as the filled molds in the fridge for 30 minutes to harden.

Scoop in Batter

Scoop in Batter

Wrap-up Remaining Batter and Chill

Wrap-up Remaining Batter and Chill

Once hardened take the molds out and wearing gloves press the batter into the molds making a well in the middle.  Make sure you spread the cacao mixture as evenly as possible so it dehydrates evenly.  Fill the wells with 1 Tbs. of organic peanut butter (or chocolate sauce). 

Press Into Molds Evenly Then Create Wells

Press Into Molds Evenly Then Create Wells

Add Filling (Peanut Butter or Chocolate)

Add Filling (Peanut Butter or Chocolate)

Take the remaining batter that was in plastic wrap out of the fridge and pinch off enough (approx. 1 Tbs.) to make a disc that will cover the bottom of each PB filled mold.  Gently press the disc onto the bottom of the filled cakes.

Shape Disc for Bottom

Shape Disc for Bottom

Ready to Chill Again

Ready to Chill Again

Put the cakes in the fridge for another hour to harden.  Keep the cakes in the fridge until 2 hours before you plan on serving them.

2 hours before serving time place the cakes on your dehydrator’s mesh tray and dehydrate for 2 hours (It takes longer than that for the Excalibur dehydrator get to 115°, so rest assured those enzymes will still be alive and kicking).

Place on Mesh Dehydrator Trays

Place on Mesh Dehydrator Trays

Dehydrated Cakes

Dehydrated Cakes

When the 2 hours is up you will notice that the cakes are no longer shiny, they will look matte as if they have been cooked.  Top each cake with some chocolate sauce, a very thin sprinkling of organic powdered sugar, and sliced bananas.  Serve IMMEDIATELY since these cakes are best warm…it will allow the peanut butter to ooze out when cut into.

Raw Chocolate Peanut Butter Molten Cake

Raw Chocolate Peanut Butter Molten Cake

I also made an all chocolate version using the Fun Fresh Foods chocolate agave nectar as the filling…topped with powdered sugar and strawberries!

Raw Chocolate Molten Cake

Raw Chocolate Molten Cake

For a printable version of this recipe click here.

3 Comments

Filed under Dessert, Gluten Free, Holiday, Nuts, Raw, Recipes, Vegan, Vegetarian

MUNG BEAN NOODLE SOUP – With Miso Broth

Mung Bean Noodle Soup

Mung Bean Noodle Soup

I am a big soup fan.  A few nights ago when we were getting ready to go on our ski trip to Mammoth, I needed to make dinner with the food we had on hand…I wanted to try and minimize what we had to leave in the fridge.  Noodle soup is always a good option.  I keep mung bean noodles (also known as Saifun Noodles) in the pantry for nights like those. Usually each package of dry noodles comes with three bundles of noodles inside, so they pack a big punch for a small cost.

I didn’t have any broth in the pantry, but I did have some outstanding miso in the fridge from South River Miso Company, so that became the basis of my soup broth.  South River Miso is a great small company that really focuses on quality and their products are really special.  To find out more about their company and order their products click here.

South River Miso

South River Miso

INGREDIENTS

Mung Bean Noodles (1 bundle per adult / half for each kid)

Broth of your choice

Vegetables of your choosing (i.e. onion, green onion, leek, spinach, kale, mushrooms, bean sprouts, basil, cilantro, jalapeno, sea veggies)

Accompaniments (Guilin Chili Sauce, sesame oil, tamari, Sriracha, white pepper)

~

I begin by soaking the mung bean bundles in hot water.

Dry Mung Bean Noodles

Dry Mung Bean Noodles

Pour Hot Water Over Noodles

Pour Hot Water Over Noodles

I tend to make a very mild broth with the intent that people will personalize their soup at the table.  Our family’s taste tends to cover the whole spectrum from very mild to crazy spicy! To make the broth this time I boiled water and added leeks to it for flavor.

Cut the Leeks Lengthwise and Clean

Cut the Leeks Lengthwise and Clean

Water With Leeks

Water With Leeks

Once the leeks have flavored the broth, ladle some hot water into a bowl and mix the miso paste into the water in the bowl.

 

Hot Water

Hot Water

Add the Miso Paste

Add the Miso Paste

Pour the miso mixture back into the hot water and leeks.

 

Add the Miso Mixture Back In

Add the Miso Mixture Back In

Flavor with tamari if needed.

 

Add Tamari If Needed

Add Tamari If Needed

Now prepare the bowls for the soup.

 

Put Raw Sliced Onions and Spinach Into Bowls

Put Raw Sliced Onions and Spinach Into Bowls

Add the soaked noodles.

 

Soaked Noodles

Soaked Noodles

Bowls With Noodles

Bowls With Noodles

Add a TINY Splash of Sesame OIl For Taste

Add a TINY Splash of Sesame OIl For Taste

Pour the boiling hot prepared broth over the noodles and cover for a few minutes.  The hot broth will cook the onion and spinach.

 

Covered Soup Bowls...Cooking the Veggies

Covered Soup Bowls...Cooking the Veggies

Now serve with the accompaniments.

 

Soup Toppings

Soup Toppings

Sauce and Spice Close-up

Sauce and Spice Close-up

Flavor your soup and enjoy.  I was in a kale mood, so I completely covered my soup with kale before I put the broth in and covered it with a lid.

 

My Soup Bowl

My Soup Bowl

6 Comments

Filed under Gluten Free, Main Dish, Recipes, Soup, Vegan, Vegetables, Vegetarian

GOURMET SANDWICH BAR – Great for Entertaining

Gourmet Sandwich Bar

Gourmet Sandwich Bar

There are days when I just don’t have time to prepare an elaborate meal, so often on those days when my kids ask, “What’s for dinner?” I answer with, “gourmet sandwiches.”  My family has come to love this answer.  Who knew something so simple could taste so good?

I have also found that a gourmet sandwich bar can be a good solution when entertaining…it looks fancy, but is quick and easy to put together.  In addition, this is a great meal to serve when there will be vegans and meat eaters at the same event. 

My in-laws had some friends in town and I had them over for dinner last night.  I knew that they were meat eaters, so I added grilled chicken to the sandwich bar menu.  Last night my sandwich bar consisted of:

  1. Fresh baked bread
  2. Sundried tomato spread
  3. Pesto spread
  4. Mayonnaise
  5. Grilled Mushrooms
  6. Carmelized onions
  7. Avocado
  8. Tomato
  9. Lettuce

I serve this menu buffet-style which allows people to make their sandwiches to their liking.  I have made this meal many times for guests and it always turns out well.  I also find that by slicing the chicken people tend to eat less meat (Sneaky me…always trying to reduce the meat consumption of those I care about!).  If you were to leave the chicken breasts whole, people would eat the whole breast in their sandwich.  When you slice it up I find that people eat about half as much meat!!!

Last night my sandwich consisted of bread, sundried tomato spread, lots of grilled mushrooms, carmelized onions, avocado, tomato, and lettuce (I could barely get my mouth around it!).  I wanted to take a picture of it for you, but got too busy jabby gabbing with my guests.

Maybe you can have a sandwich bar this weekend when you host your Super Bowl parties!

Gourmet Sandwich Bar

Gourmet Sandwich Bar

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Filed under Main Dish, Quick, Recipes, Vegan, Vegetarian

ROASTED SPICED CHICKPEA SNACK

Baked Spiced Chickpeas

Baked Spiced Chickpeas

I know all of us are always looking for healthy snack alternatives that will hit the spot and satisfy.  This recipe does the trick.  Packed with protein and fiber, chickpeas are an amazing addition to your daily fare.  I made some of these BAKED SPICED CHICKPEAS this afternoon so it would be ready for the kids to nosh on when they got home from school.  WARNING – These are addicting!!! …and may be too spicy for wee ones (just reduce the cayenne).

INGREDIENTS

1 1/2 Tbs. oil

25 oz. can Westbrae Organic Chickpeas

SPICE MIX INGREDIENTS (from a Vegetarian Times recipe used for a  nut mix):

2 tsp. coconut sugar

1 1/2 tsp. ground cumin

1 1/2 tsp. sweet paprika (I used La Chinata smoked sweet paprika from Spain)

1 tsp. cayenne pepper

1/2 tsp. garlic powder

1/2 tsp. ground allspice (optional)

1/2 tsp. salt (optional.  omit if you want the mix to be just sweet & spicy)

~

Preheat the oven to 425°.

Westbrae Chickpeas

Westbrae Chickpeas

Wash and drain the chickpeas.  Place the clean chickpeas on 2 layers of paper towels and gently rub the tops of them with another layer of  paper towels.

Rinse Well

Rinse Well

Place on a Paper Towel Lined Platter

Place on a Paper Towel Lined PlatterGently Dry the Beans by Rubbing the Tops

Gently Dry the Beans by Rubbing the Tops

Gently Dry the Beans by Rubbing the Tops

You want to get the chickpeas as dry as possible.  Notice that some of the chickpea’s skins will come loose.  Remove the skins.

Remove Loose Skins

Remove Loose Skins

While the chickpeas are air drying further, make the spice mix.  Pour all of the spices into a bowl and mix well (I used a mortar and pestle that I bought at Cost Plus World Market so I could grind the spices together).  This recipe will not use all of the mix, so reserve the excess for later.

Grind the Spices Together

Grind the Spices Together

Place the clean and dry chickpeas in a bowl and coat them with the oil.  Once coated with oil,  sprinkle on the spice mix to taste (I used 3 tsp.).

Coat the Beans w/ Oil

Coat the Beans w/ Oil

Place the seasoned chickpeas on a lined cookie sheet (I used a Silpat) and put the sheet in the oven for 40-60 minutes.  Carefully watch the chickpeas at the end as they can quickly burn.  Once done, the chickpeas will be browned and crunchy.  As the chickpeas cool they will become even crunchier.

Baked Spiced Chickpeas

Baked Spiced Chickpeas

For a printable version of this recipe click here.

10 Comments

Filed under Beans/Legumes, Recipes, Sides, Snacks, Vegan, Vegetarian

BAKED LIMA BEANS

Baked Lima Beans

Baked Lima Beans

When I was a kid I HATED lima beans.  My dad loved them, so we ate them a lot.  Just thinking of lima beans used to make my mouth dry…they always tasted so mealy and intensely dry to me and no amount of butter could fix that.  To this day I see one of the bricks of frozen Jolly Green Giant lima beans and shudder.

Fast forward to adulthood.  A few months ago my husband and I had the priviledge of enjoying an amazing night at the Segerstrom Family Farm in Costa Mesa.  Our friends invited us to join them at the farm for a charity event (The Festival of Children) and it was truly one of my favorite events ever.  We began by going out into the fields to pick the produce that would be used in our dinner.  There was a private chef who prepared all of the food with her team and we spent the night dining outdoors under the stars right next to the fields.  It was spectacular.  The food was phenomenal and the company was even better.

The Segerstrom Farm began as a lima bean farm, so when the night ended we were all sent home with bage of dried lima beans and fantastic pumpkins to take home to the kids.

Segerstrom Lima Beans

Segerstrom Lima Beans

For the holidays my mom and dad gifted me a HUGE (750+ pages) vegetarian cookbook  called World Vegetarian by Madhur Jaffrey and one of the lima bean reciped jumped out at me.  The time had come for me to give lima beans another try…I already had some outstanding beans in the pantry from the Segerstrom Farm, so  I had no more excuses.

World Vegetarian

World Vegetarian

Shockingly I LOVED this recipe.  The beans were creamy and so flavorful.  I am sure it is attributable to high quality beans and a well written cookbook.

Madhur received this recipe from the nuns at the Ormylia Monastery in Macedonia.

INGREDIENTS

1 cup dried lima beans or any large white beans, picked over and washed

¼ cup oil

1 medium onion, peeled, halved lengthwise, and cut into thin half moons

1 medium carrot, peeled and cut into 1/3-inch-thick slices

2 good-sized (6-7 ounce each) tomatoes, finely chopped

1 ¼ tsp. salt

Freshly ground black pepper

3 Tbs. finely chopped fresh parsley

3 Tbs. finely chopped fresh oregano or 1 tsp. dried oregano

~~

Soak the beans overnight in water to cover by 5 inches.  Drain, discarding the soaking liquid and rinse with cold water.

Dry Beans vs. Soaked Beans

Dry Beans vs. Soaked Beans

Put the beans in a pot with 3 cups of fresh water and bring to a boil.  Remove the scum that rises to the top.  Cover, turn the heat down to low, and simmer gently for 40 to 60 minutes, or until the beans are just tender (If the dried beans are very fresh it may only take 20 minutes).  

 
 

Skim the Foam

Skim the Foam

 

 Meanwhile, put the oil in a flame and ovenproof casserole-type dish and set over medium-high heat.  When hot, add the onion.  Stir and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, or until the onion has just wilted.  Put in the carrot and cook another minute, stirring now and then.  Now put in the tomatoes and cook 7 to 10 minutes, or until the tomatoes have softened.  Turn off the heat.
Onions, Carrots, & Tomatoes

Onions, Carrots, & Tomatoes

Sauteed Onions, Carrots, & Tomatoes

Sauteed Onions, Carrots, & Tomatoes

Preheat the oven to 325˚F.

When the beans have finished cooking, add them and their cooking liquid to the dish with the onion, carrot, and tomatoes. 

Gently Mix in the Lima Beans

Gently Mix in the Lima Beans

 Add the salt, lots of black pepper, the parsley, and oregano.  Stir to mix

Add the Herbs

Add the Herbs

Put the casserole dish into the oven and bake, uncovered for 2 hours. 

Ready for the Oven

Ready for the Oven

Serve hot.  I served this with a salad and some crusty whole wheat bread, but it would taste great over barley or pasta as well.

Baked & Ready to Serve

Baked & Ready to Serve

For a printable version of this recipe click here

4 Comments

Filed under Beans/Legumes, Books, Farming, Gluten Free, Recipes, Vegan, Vegetarian

VEGAN GOAT CHEESE

Raw Vegan Goat Cheese

When people make the decision to remove dairy from their diet cheese is often what they say they miss most.  Dairy is NOT healthy (in the future I will do an in-depth post to explain why) , so it is important that we find good alternatives.

Russell James

Russell James

I recently purchased one of Russell James‘ e-books called Raw Nut Cheese from his Raw Chef’s Recipe Series and decided to give the goat cheese recipe a whirl.

Raw Nut Cheese by Russell James

I have made raw nut cheese before and they weren’t as successful as this recipe was (I am eating it as I type…yum!).  I think the curing step is key…

INGREDIENTS – day one

2 cups raw unsalted macadamias, soaked 4 hours

1 cup water

1 tsp. probiotics powder (I used New Chapter Organics All Flora)

INGREDIENTS – day two

1 tsp. nutritional yeast

½ tsp. salt

1 tsp. lemon juice

Soak the macadamia nuts in filtered water for 4 hours.

Raw Macadamias

Soaked for 4 Hours

Blend the soaked nuts with 1 cup of filtered water and 1 tsp. probiotics powder in your high-powered blender (I used my Vitamix).  Make sure all of the nuts are blended well and there are no chunks.

Water & Probiotics

Blend Macadamias & Water

Blend Away All Lumps

Transfer the mixture to a cheesecloth-lined strainer that has been placed over a bowl.

Strainer Over Bowl

Line Strainer w/ Cheesecloth

Fold the cheesecloth over the cheese and place a weight over the top (I used a plate with pie weights over it).  Allow this mixture to cure at room temperature for a full 24 hours.

Put the Mixture in the Cheesecloth Lined Strainer

Fold Over the Cheesecloth

Top w/ Weight

Once the cheese has cured, mix in the nutritional yeast, salt, and lemon juice.

Cheese Texture After Curing

Add the Nutritional Yeast, Lemon, & Salt

Place the mixture in a Saran wrap lined spring form pan (I used a 5” pan) and place in the refrigerator to firm-up.

Put the Cheese Mixture in the Pan

Close the Plastic Wrap

When the cheese is more firm (it will never get firm…it will become the texture of goat cheese) and ready to serve, top it with your choice of toppings i.e. pesto, chopped sun dried tomatoes, fresh herbs.  The next time I make this cheese I plan on mixing pesto directly into the mixture.  This cheese is great served with crackers, on a salad, or in a sandwich.

Raw Vegan Goat Cheese

For a printable version of this recipe click here

18 Comments

Filed under Books, Cheese, Gluten Free, Raw, Recipes, Vegan, Vegetarian

HEALTHY BANANA BREAD (Gluten- Free and Vegan)

Banana Bread Muffins

Our family eats a lot of bananas, but ever so often a few get to the point where my kids find them too ripe to eat plain… I then know it is time to whip-up some banana bread (click here to see another use for ripe bananas).  This recipe has been my tried and true recipe for a while.

My daughter has a wheat allergy, so a few years ago I began experimenting with alternative flours.  I know I have a winning recipe when my husband (who does not have a wheat allergy) gives them the thumbs up.

This recipe tends to be healthier than most because it uses nut flours as the base (coconut and almond) which are much lower on the glycemic index than regular flours.  I also do not use sugar in this recipe.  The bananas in themselves are very sweet since they are so ripe.  I do add some Somersweet (which was created by Suzanne Somers).  Somersweet uses inulin which comes from chicory and is a pre-biotic.  If you do not have Somersweet on hand, you can substitute sugar (coconut sugar or brown sugar).  Coconut oil is also a very beneficial and nutritious.

DRY INGREDIENTS
1 cup blanched almond flour
1 cup coconut flour
2/3 cup Somersweet
2 tsp. baking powder
2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. xanthan gum
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
½ cup coconut oil *
2 handfuls pecans (chopped) **
1/3 cup Enjoy Life semi-sweet chocolate chips **
* will be mixed in with the dry ingredients with a pastry blender
** will be mixed in once the batter has been made
 
WET INGREDIENTS
1 cup vanilla So Delicious Coconut Yogurt OR applesauce
2/3 cup So Delicious unsweetened coconut milk
1 tsp. vanilla
3 bananas (mashed)
4 eggs OR the equivalent Ener G Egg Replacer
Preheat oven to 325˚.

Grease the bottom and sides of your muffin tins with coconut oil (I use a mini crumb cake pan).

Grease the Pan

Grease the Pan

Combine all of the dry ingredients (except for the coconut oil, pecans, and chocolate chips) in a bowl and whisk them to incorporate.

Whisk All of the Dry Ingredients

Whisk All of the Dry Ingredients

Once the dry ingredients are well mixed, add the coconut oil into the mixture and cut it in with a pastry blender.  You want the coconut oil to break into lots of tiny pieces so that when you add the wet ingredients you won’t have large chunks of coconut oil throughout your batter (this step is very important).

Blend in the Coconut Oil

Blend in the Coconut Oil

Slice the bananas into a separate bowl and then mash them being sure to leave some chunks.

I Use a Potato Masher

I Use a Potato Masher

Add the rest of the wet ingredients into the bowl with the bananas and mix well.

Add in the Wet Ingredients

Add in the Wet Ingredients

Next combine the wet ingredients with the dry and mix to combine.  The batter will not be runny, but will hold together fairly well.

Incorporate Wet & Dry Ingredients

Incorporate Wet & Dry IngredientsBatter Texture Pre- Pecans & Chocolate Chips

Batter Texture Pre- Pecans & Chocolate Chips

Batter Texture Pre- Pecans & Chocolate Chips

Once the batter is fully mixed, add in the pecans and chocolate chips.

I use an ice cream scoop (approximately 1/3 cup) to fill my muffin tins and make them uniform so they cook evenly.  Once you have filled the muffin tins, push them down to flatten.

Using and Ice Cream Scoop

Using and Ice Cream Scoop

Flatten the Muffins

Flatten the Muffins

If you have any remaining batter, put it into a zip lock bag, flatten it, and remove all of the air bubbles.  This batter freezes well.

Freeze Remaining Batter

Freeze Remaining Batter

Bake the muffins for 30-40 minutes (depending upon your muffin tin).  Turn the pan 180˚ halfway through the bake time.

Once they are nice and brown and the middle of the muffin is set, remove from the oven.

Nice & Brown

Nice & Brown

Let the muffins rest for 5 minutes and then transfer them to cooling racks.  It is very important to allow the muffins to cool so they firm/set-up.  The texture of the muffin won’t be at its best until it is room temperature (not that my kids ever wait that long).

Cooling Racks

Cooling Racks

Once they have cooled enjoy!

For a printable version of this recipe click here

9 Comments

Filed under Breakfast, Dessert, Gluten Free, Recipes, Vegetarian

KALE SALAD

Kale Salad

Kale Salad

I love kale. 

There are many different kinds of kale, but I’d say the two most common varieties are Curly and Lacinato (also known as Dinosaur kale…look at it and you will figure out why).

The trick with kale is all in how you prepare it.  Kale can be really tough and in my opinion, if you are going to eat it raw, you really need to marinate it (otherwise known as “squish the heck out of I and wait.”).  Here is my recipe for my favorite way to make kale salad:

Ingredients

3 bunches of kale (I used Lacinato)

3 tangerines, 1 orange or 1 lemon (depending on if you want it sweet or more lemony)

2 Tbs olive oil

2-4 Tbs white balsamic vinegar

1/4 – 1/2 cup finely chopped red onion

1 avocado

1/4 – 1/2 cup chopped candied nuts (for my recipe click here)

1/4 cup dried cranberries (optional…I left them out today)

Salt and pepper to taste

*

Soak the kale in the sink in cold water to clean

Soaking In Water

Soaking In Water

After the kale has been cleaned, it needs to be finely chopped (like you would chop cabbage for coleslaw).  The stems/backbone of the kale can be tough.  There are a few options to handle this.  You can either chop off the lower portion of the kale and save it for later use (I did this tonight since I know I will be putting it in my juicer in the morning)

Cut Off The Ends

Cut Off The Ends

Or you can place the kale face down on the chopping board and cut off the spine (more work).  You would then line up the kale dog-pile style and start chopping.

Trim The Spine

Trim The Spine

Once you have chopped all of the kale, it is a good idea to put it through the salad spinner to get rid of any excess liquid.  When the kale is good and dry, place it into a big bowl.  I bought this salad bowl a few years ago at Party City (of all places) and I use it all the time.  I love having a huge bowl so I don’t have to worry about making a huge mess.

Chopped Kale In The Bowl and Reserved Ends for Tomorrow's Juice

Chopped Kale In The Bowl and Reserved Ends for Tomorrow's Juice

Add the citrus juice, olive oil, vinegar, red onion, and some salt and pepper in with the kale (don’t go overboard with the salt and pepper…you can adjust the seasoning at the end). 

I Used Cuties

I Used Cuties

Marinade

Marinade

Now it is time to mash and smoosh the kale.  Get in there with your hands and get messy.  You don’t have to be gentle with it, remember it is tough.  Mash for a few minutes and then leave it in the bowl to marinate (for as little as 10 minutes to as long as overnight…it doesn’t get soggy like other salads tend to).

Smoosh Smash Crush

Smoosh Smash Crush

You will be amazed by how much the salad has decreased in size.  It will be atleast 1/2 the size it was before you marinated it.

Right before you are ready to serve the salad chop up the avocado and add it in to the bowl.  When I made the salad tonight this is when I also added in the red onion…woops…I usually make it like I said in this post and add the onion in when it all marinates since it makes the flavors stronger.  Smash it all up again with your hands.  This is what it going to give the salad that nice creamy taste.

Ready For The Second Round of Smooshing

Ready For The Second Round of Smooshing

At this point taste the salad, you may have to make some flavor adjustments by adding more balsamic vinegar, salt, or pepper.

Top the salad with the chopped nuts and dried cranberries.

Kale Salad

Kale Salad

My son had two servings of this salad tonight.

Enjoy!

For a printable version of this recipe click here

11 Comments

Filed under Main Dish, Raw, Recipes, Salad, Sides, Vegan, Vegetables, Vegetarian

FOOD LOG – JANUARY 3, 2011

Today's Green Smoothie

Me & My Liquid Health

So here’s the low-down on what I ate today.  Since I am in recovery mode from the holidays, there is a bunch of green juice to get my nutrient levels back to where they should be…I guess you could say I am doing a cleanse of sorts.

6am – 32 ounces of water with an entire lemon squeezed in

8:15am – 20 ounces of green juice (made in my Breville juicer)

RECIPE (this made enough for the day)

  • kale stems that I saved from making kale chips
  • mixed greens
  • 5 carrots
  • 1 huge cucumber
  • 1/2 head of napa cabbage

10am – handful of raw nuts… almonds, walnuts, pecans

1pm – 16 ounces of green juice (made in the morning and put in a 16 ounce mason jar filled to the lid in order to prevent oxidation…a trick I got from Kris Carr)

2:30pm – green smoothie

RECIPE

Blend all of the ingredients in the blender.  I use my Vitamix since it completely emulsifies everything.  If you don’t have a Vitamix, any blender will work…you may have to add some more liquid to get it all to blend.

4pm – the rest of the green smoothie

6pm – brown rice, baked beans (recipe from weelicious.com), roasted brussel sprouts

7pm – 3 Cuties tangerines

8 Comments

Filed under Cleansing, Detox, Food Journal, Recipes, Vegan, Vegetarian